News From Nigeria
In a society that is based on the rule of law and hierarchy, there should be no room for any serving army officer to comment on what happened between Wike and Yerima.
It is disgraceful for any general to intimidate the public by saying that the action is a threat to national security. This is what is wrong with the military in Nigeria. They think they are a government in waiting or they are a parallel government. This grandiosity is absurd.
These statements should never be tolerated. This shows that the Nigerian soldiers do not know how to subordinate themselves to civilian authority in a democratic society.
The chief of army staff should be fired. It is wrong for him to comment on this issue and also it is wrong for him to relate this issue to national security.
What the chief of army staff has done is insubordination that requires him to be fired. Any comment on this issue should be from the Minister of Defence, not the chief of army staff.
The position of the chief of army staff suggests that the military in Nigeria is above the law and Mr. Wike should take orders from the service chiefs. No sir. The service chief should defer to the minister who has the jurisdiction here. The service chiefs should be debriefed on the relationship of the army and the civilian authority. Some of them are still living in the past.
The days where they release soldiers into the street to terrorize the citizens should be behind us. It is unfortunate. The Army chief of staff thinks, might is right. His statement shows that he does not see himself as a subordinate to civilian authority. It also demonstrates that he has no respect for the rule of law and due process. He should resign or be fired from the army.
By his utterance, he has demonstrated that he has no respect for the civilian authority. People like him should not be in the army. Their thinking is anachronistic to our present time. Any officer having this kind of ego should go to the Sahel. We don’t need military people who think they are government in waiting.
In the days of yore, this Army chief would have released soldiers into the street to harass citizens. In a civilian regime, the army should be seen and not heard. The army in the past poured into the street when a drunken soldier was hit by a vehicle. Instead of rendering help, they started beating people and burning cars. None of those soldiers were disciplined during the military regimes.
No soldier was punished for the rape and destruction that took place at Fela’s house. For more than three days, soldiers at Jaji poured into the street, beat up and destroyed cars belonging to citizens because a drunken soldier was hit by a vehicle.
It is our responsibility as citizens and leaders to change the mindset of the Nigerian military that has been distorted by military rule. Their primary duty is to defend the Republic, with arms, from external aggression.
Their constant aggression against the Nigerian citizens must be stopped. The Nigerian military goes into villages and shoots without asking questions.
Recently they went to a village in Delta state, terrorized and killed villagers who were sleeping. At this point of writing, no soldier involved in that exercise has been disciplined.
Enough is enough. In our democracy, we should hear from the minister of defence, not the Chief of Army staff whose language is a veiled threat to our democracy.
He should be fired. What he said is disrespectful to the minister.
What every Nigerian should understand is that no matter how they feel about that altercation, Officer Yerima is not supposed to be at that site. His presence there was unofficial and illegal.
Would Officer Yerima have gone there if the place does not belong to a retired general? Do serving soldiers take orders from retired officers? Would Officer Yerima and his platoon be polite if the occupant they met was not the minister but a citizen minding his business? They would have given him the Nigeria army treatment which comprises assault and false imprisonment which is the MO of the Nigerian army.
We must stop this abuse of citizens by members of the Nigerian army. They are enlisted to serve and protect Nigerians. Due to breakdown of military discipline during the dark days of military dictatorship, they consider themselves above the law and want to resolve legal issues with intimidation and assault. The breakdown of military discipline also coincided with citizens being mentally disarmed to use the law for protection.
What the soldiers do to citizens in Nigeria is an aberration. They call us bloody civilians. Why? If we want our democracy to survive, we must teach our people their rights. Under normal circumstances, in peacetime, enlisted men should not be seen in the cities unless they are there for special duties with clear rules of engagement.
What was the rule of engagement for Officer Yerima? What national assignment was he carrying out at that location? I sincerely believe that in spite of his reputation. Mr Wike went to this level because he has seen how uniform officers don’t think the law applies to them. He may have also noticed that the generals in the army are not subordinating themselves to civilian authorities in the process of our democratic governance.
It is time we start thinking of a reserve army. We can start by making all youth corps members undergo compulsory military training for six months. The only reason why the army threatens our national security with coup is because they have a monopoly of weapons.
For our democracy to grow, we must abolish this monopoly. The citizens should have the right to bear arms. Enough is enough. Respect begets Respect.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
The Ernest Sisei Ikoli Foundation on Monday announced that prominent leaders, technocrats and business moguls are expected to converge on Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025, as the remains of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli are laid to rest.
The Foundation also confirmed Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s body will lie in state for one hour in Surulere before a funeral service is held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos Island.
‘’The service of songs and reflection of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s life and legacy will be held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. On Friday, November 28, 2025, the body will depart Lagos University Teaching Hospital at 7:00am. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s body will lie in state in her 26, Eric Moore Close home. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos Island. This will be followed by interment at Ebony Vaults & Gardens, Ikoyi. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’ a statement from the Ernest Ikoli Foundation said.
Elsie Ajayi Ikoli died on September 2, 2025, in Lagos.
The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.
The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″
The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.
“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”
The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.
“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”
Leading construction engineering company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, weekend, demonstrated its commitment to supporting education and community development through its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative by donating a fully equipped Robotics Laboratory to Government Secondary School, GSS, Gwarinpa, Life Camp in the Federal Capital Territory.
The new laboratory stocked with robotics kits, computers, and hands-on learning materials, is designed to give students the opportunity to explore practical tech concepts and build essential problem-solving skills.
During the handover ceremony at GSS Gwarinpa Life Camp, the school environment was filled with excitement as students and staff explored the new robotics facility.
Project Coordinator for Region Central and North at Julius Berger, Engr. Dr. Amodu Ismaila, expressed appreciation for the warm relationship between the company and the Gwarinpa community. He noted that the school environment has become more comfortable and conducive for learning. According to him, Gwarinpa Secondary School has long been a neighbour to the company’s camp, and over the years, the school has continued to educate their children as well as other students in the area.
Dr. Ismaila said that the company as a good corporate citizen has had to be contracted to execute many projects in the area adding that through these various projects, Julius Berger remains both a good neighbour and a committed partner to the communities it serves.
Engr. Dr. Amodu Ismaila explained that, in selecting GSS the school as the starting point for the initiative, is to kick start the project. Adding that the Managing Director was strongly in support of the CSR activity at GSS, Gwarinpa.
Ismaila stressed that ICT forms the backbone of modern development, enabling a wide range of possibilities, from digital learning to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He added that once ICT facilities are in place, all that is required is continuous upgrading of smart classrooms and steady progress from there.
The School Principal, Abubakar Ajayi, expressed his gratitude to the company for its continuous and sustained contribution to the growth of the school. He continued: “let me end it by saying that what you have done is a motivation for other organisations to copy. It is a good example. Since Julius Berger is close to me, you are about the only person or organisation I can easily run to. We will be coming back, from time to time. Before I came here, when I took over the school, I saw the set of students furniture that Julius Berger donated, very beautiful and durable. We hope that this partnership will continue”.
Members of Julius Berger’s delegation to the event also spent time interacting with the students, talking about the importance of learning basic technology skills and encouraging them to make good use of the new laboratory amidst a clear sense of excitement as students explored the equipment.
The donation of the robotics laboratory goes beyond providing physical tools. It represents a strong investment in young people and their potentials. By supporting initiatives like this, Julius Berger continues to play an important role in developing the next generation of curious thinkers and problem-solvers. Also, through actions like these, the company is reaffirming its commitment to community growth and its belief that empowering students today helps build a brighter, stronger Nigeria tomorrow.
Over the years, Julius Berger has consistently used its CSR efforts to contribute meaningfully to communities across the country. The company’s belief in “building beyond infrastructure” continues to guide its interventions, ensuring that its impact is felt not only in construction sites but also in classrooms, homes, and public institutions. By supporting education, the company reinforces the idea that true development begins with empowering people.
Preparations are in top gear as the family of First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, gets set to bid farewell to a woman of profound moral scruples, stickler for hard work and excellence, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
The burial activities, scheduled for November 27 – 30 in Lagos, are expected to attract traditional rulers, clergymen, business tycoons, top government functionaries, prominent lawyers, public affairs experts, diplomats and media professionals across the world.
Following the demise of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli on September 2, 2025 at the age of 93, the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation released burial plans indicating that the burial ceremonies will take place between Friday, November 27, 2025 and Sunday, November, 30, 2025.
‘’The service of songs is scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 27, 2025 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28. This will be followed by internment. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’
The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.
The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″
The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.
“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”
The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.
“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”
Well known as a tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.
“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”
The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.
“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”
Widely respected for her innumerable contributions to the development of individuals and groups in Nigeria and the world at large, the statement emphasized courage in adversity and how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.
The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.
“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.
Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.
“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.
The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.
“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”
Elsie Ajayi Ikoli will be remembered for her restlessness in terms of work and her persistence in excelling. She will also be remembered with respect.
Meanwhile, major organizations in Nigeria have expressed their condolences following the death of Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
Charis Microfinance Bank has described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as an irreparable loss.
‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Charis Microfinance Bank Limited, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, who slept in the Lord on the 2nd of September, 2025. We share in your grief during this difficult time and pray that God grants you and the entire family the strength and comfort to bear the irreparable loss’’ the bank said in a statement on Monday morning.
The dynamic financial institution also extolled the qualities of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli and relevance of Lagos lawyer, Anthony George-Ikoli, in the business community and political history of Nigeria.
‘’As our esteemed chairman, your leadership, wisdom and commitment have been instrumental in guiding the bank towards its vision of financial inclusion, sustainable growth and economic prosperity. The values of honesty, accountability and integrity that you embody are a true reflection of the strong foundation and nurturing influence of your late mother. Her legacy lives on through you and the many lives she touched’’.
The bank, according to the statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Obiora Unigwe and the Head, Products & Brand Management, Osasu Steve-Momoh, is deeply saddened by her death.
‘’At Charis Microfinance Bank, we consider ourselves a family, and in this moment of sorrow, we stand firmly with you in solidarity and prayer. While her physical presence will be greatly missed, we take solace in the knowledge that Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli lived a life of grace, faith and purpose, one that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy, and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace’’
CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited also paid tribute to the memory of this role-model who stamped her footprints on the sands of time.
‘’On behalf of the Board, Management and the entire staff of CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited, I acknowledge the news of the transition to the glory of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who slept peacefully in the Lord on 2nd September, 2025. What an irreplaceable loss’’ Cakasa (Nigeria) Company Limited said in a statement.
The statement by the Chairman of CAKASA, Christopher A. Alabi, described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a great mother.
‘’No doubt, the transition of our dearly beloved matriarch had left a great and indelible void in the hearts and minds of not just the immediate family but anyone who had had a rare occasion to meet her’’.
The engineering, procurement and construction company highlighted her virtue and nobility.
‘’The outpouring of grief and emotion over her transition is a clear affirmation of her personality as an embodiment of virtue and nobility. She showed love without expectation to all, cared for others without conditions and touched lives in innumerable and invaluable ways’’.
The statement advised Antony George-Ikoli and members of his family not to grieve.
‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a rare gem. She personified selflessness, altruism and service to humanity. What a life well lived, a legacy superlatively delivered. She would be sorely missed, but we are not without hope. And so, it is well said that albeit ‘’ nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower’’. Let us grieve no more. But find hope and strength that whatever our worries and cares may justifiably be on account of her glorious transition. We must give them over to God for He cares for us. God’s care closes every void. His comfort soothes every pain and His love trumps every loss.
It also reminded Antony George-Ikoli of the roles played by Elsie Ajayi Ikoli in the Lord’s Vineyard.
‘’Thus, as we grieve the irreparable loss, we must take solace in the sublime truth that our sister, having died a worthy daughter of the Lord and servant in His Vineyard, the heavenly hosts are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil of immortality of course.
Similarly, WEMA Bank extended condolences to Anthony George-Ikoli on the passing of his dearly beloved mother.
‘’As a team, we are deeply saddened by this loss and understand how difficult it is to part with a loved one.
In a letter signed by Business Development Manager, Olaniyi Saheed and Zonal Manager, LM, Lucky Imoisilli, the bank expressed solidarity with the family during the period of mourning.
‘’Please accept our deepest sympathy and we pray that God grants you and your entire family the strength and comfort you need during this time and may her soul rest in peace’’.
In the same vein, Polaris Bank extended sympathies to the family of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
‘’It was with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of your dear mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli. On behalf of the Management and Staff of Polaris Bank, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time’’
The bank in a letter by its Relationship Manager, Nta Henshaw and Branch Manager, Cibuzo Ogbonna acknowledged Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s contributions to the growth of the family.
‘’We understand that the loss of a mother leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. May you find strength in the cherished memories you shared with her and may her legacy of love and guidance continue to comfort and inspire you. Please be assured of our thoughts and prayers as you go through this period of grief. We stand with you and wish you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss’’.
The leaders of the Ijaw Nation expressed grief over the demise of Anthony George-Ikoli’s mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
In a statement on Monday, the Ijaw leaders paid their deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying that the prayers of the Ijaw people are with Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his family at this difficult time.
‘’Our prayers are with you and the entire bereaved family because of this irreparable loss. Though a painful exit of a good mother, God loves her more’’.
The statement by the Lagos State Chairman, Tonye Leonard Harry and State Secretary, Elayelagha Golden Ambakaderemo commiserated with Anthony George-Ikoli over the demise of his beloved mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
‘’Please accept our heartfelt condolences and may you find comfort and strength during this difficult time’’
The statement by the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter urged Anthony George-Ikoli and his relatives to draw strength from the mother’s illuminating attributes of honesty, discipline, resilience and joyful spirit.
‘’Her sweet memories will forever be etched in our minds” the statement added.
Lagos residents also expressed profound sadness at the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
A statement by the Alaka Executive Committee offered the deepest and most heartfelt condolences to famous lawyer, Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his entire family.
‘’The loss of a mother is one of life’s most profound sorrows and we understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing’’.
The statement was signed by the Alaka Estate Chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugwu and the General Secretary, Mrs. Kemi Awe
‘’We stand with you in solidarity during this period of bereavement” the statement said.
‘’Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you navigate through these challenging times. We pray that the Almighty God will grant your mum eternal rest and provide you and your family with the strength, comfort and solace needed to bear this irreplaceable loss’’.
Nothing exemplifies more about the ad-hoc system than the altercation that took place between the Minister of the Federal Capital, Nyesom Wike and Lieutenant A. M. Yerima a few days ago.
Some persons familiar with the theatrics of Wike may condemn his method but you can see that his heart is in the right place.
A lot of Nigerians suffered damage from ad-hoc military rule and the lack of respect for citizens and the rule of law. This military induced cognitive dissonance makes them accept military abuse as normal. This cognitive dissonance is the reason a lot of people are focusing on the wrong elements in the interaction of the duo.
What took place in Abuja is a microcosm of what Nigerians suffer daily from the hands of soldiers in Nigeria. Ad-hoc system leads to the breakdown of the rule of law and personalization of power.
The prick waving between the officer and Mr. Wike is the result of the imposed military ad-hoc culture. Instead of following the due process of law, it became a competition of who is more important. Instead of legal questions, the arguments become personal.
If Wike was not a minister, the officers would have assaulted him and locked him up in some military guardroom. This is the Nigerian reality. This is why that officer must be prosecuted for being in that place unlawfully.
If Wike was not a minister, the story would have been different and buried.
The years of military rule and their ad-hoc system of governance led to unprofessionalism of the Nigerian soldier and the total disregard for the rule of law.
The average Nigerian soldier seems to think he is above the law. They violate traffic regulations all the time and cause a lot of misery to citizens. They seem to think they have the legal right or duty to arrest civilians.
They should be made to understand that they are not superior citizens, and they are not above the law.
They must stop using their military positions to take laws into their own hands.
You may say the minister insulted the soldier. That is not the point. You may say the soldier was polite, that is also not the point. The question to ask is: why was the soldier there with other soldiers who were armed? Who gave the order for the officer to be there with other soldiers? Why did they go there armed? What was their rule of engagement? Was that the proper method to seek resolution in a dispute between two parties? Why was officer Yerima taking orders from a retired general? What does the uniform code of military justice say about this? Can retired soldiers command active-duty officers to carry out military exercises? Who was paying for the time that officer Yerima was using to do private security for his retired General?
The answer to these questions will tell us how unprofessional and lawless the Nigerian soldier is.
The reason the officer went to that site is to use intimidation to stop the workers from their legitimate duties. This is an illegal act that should have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of that officer.
He left his duty post under unlawful command to assault citizens engaged in their lawful duties.
Due to successive military governments in Nigeria, the average soldier thinks he has the right to arrest civilians. He thinks he is above the law. This is very wrong. They should be disabused of this notion.
They must subordinate themselves to civilian authority. The soldier is not a prosecutor, and he does not have the power to arrest any civilian.
Due to lack of knowledge, soldiers have been engaging in these activities. Some would arrest and detain civilians in military guard rooms which is illegal.
The general who sent officer Yerima does not think he is subject to the rule of law in a democratic society. That is why he decided to take the law into his own hands and intimidate the civilians involved.
We should review the unified code of military justice and see if a retired officer has the right to give order to a serving officer. If the answer is no, then Officer Yerima should be prosecuted for abusing his position.
He carried out an unlawful order from an officer who is no longer in service. He does not have the authority to interfere or interrogate any civilian in their place of work.
We as a nation must condemn what has happened and use this as a teaching moment.
The army must subordinate themselves to civilian authority. They work for us.
While I may be uncomfortable with Wike’ s theatrics, he should never apologize to Yerima. Yerima was there unlawfully and also in breach of military protocol. He should be arrested and prosecuted.
This will serve as a deterrent to soldiers who think their uniform is an emblem to intimidate and harass Nigerian citizens.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
Charis Microfinance Bank has described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as an irreparable loss.
‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Charis Microfinance Bank Limited, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, who slept in the Lord on the 2nd of September, 2025. We share in your grief during this difficult time and pray that God grants you and the entire family the strength and comfort to bear the irreparable loss’’ the bank said in a statement on Monday morning.
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The dynamic financial institution also extolled the qualities of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli and relevance of Lagos lawyer, Anthony George-Ikoli, in the business community and political history of Nigeria.
‘’As our esteemed chairman, your leadership, wisdom and commitment have been instrumental in guiding the bank towards its vision of financial inclusion, sustainable growth and economic prosperity. The values of honesty, accountability and integrity that you embody are a true reflection of the strong foundation and nurturing influence of your late mother. Her legacy lives on through you and the many lives she touched’’.
The bank, according to the statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Obiora Unigwe and the Head, Products & Brand Management, Osasu Steve-Momoh, is deeply saddened by her death.
‘’At Charis Microfinance Bank, we consider ourselves a family, and in this moment of sorrow, we stand firmly with you in solidarity and prayer. While her physical presence will be greatly missed, we take solace in the knowledge that Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli lived a life of grace, faith and purpose, one that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy, and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace’’
The statement also highlighted the bank’s roles in creating opportunities, transforming lives and contributing to national economic development.
‘’Charis Microfinance Bank Limited is a dynamic financial institution committed to promoting financial inclusion, economic empowerment and sustainable growth among individuals, small businesses and communities. Through integrity, professionalism and excellence in service delivery, Charis Microfinance Bank Limited remains dedicated to creating opportunities, transforming lives and contributing to national economic development’’.
Elsie Ajayi Ikoli will be interred on Friday, November 28, 2025 in Lagos.
OUR ADHOC NATION AND SECURITY CHALLENGE PART 2 BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE
When the so-called leaders and other pretenders to the throne talk about the present security challenges in Nigeria, they magnify the situation by using memorized arcane language that makes them sound smart and alienate the citizens.
Security is not alien to our culture. It is the process of safeguarding the members and properties in our community.
I am an Isoko man. The first law of security in my village is: know thy neighbour. This simple law can be expanded to apply to any jurisdiction. The villagers know each other and they know their children and even may go further to know the colour of the goat in the yard and the owner of the goat. Some people in the village with keener interest may know the characteristics; know the bleat or baa of the goat. On that rare occasion when the owner is looking for the goat, some one can say the last place he saw the goat. Another individual might even say he heard the baa of the goat in another area.
With this kind of local knowledge and awareness, it is easy to prevent foul play as everyone knows there are many eyes on the goat. That goat has security.
The security is taken further by knowing any stranger who may have visited and timed to coincide with the disappearance of the goat. At Night, we have specialized Irumani assigned to patrol each street. Their job is to notice and record any irregular movements of those who are still awake while others are sleeping. They know everyone on that street, their body movements and inflections that make individuals identifiable. They can tell it is the hunchback running from the window of the woman shouting. They just go to his house and wait for him to return. The case is solved.
This is the nutshell of what security should be. As society grows and changes, this basic picture is expanded. In a nutshell, security is about public safety. You cannot make the public safe if you don’t care who the members of the public are.
If a restaurant serves food to the public, we make sure the food is not poisonous. This is food safety.
If there is an industry in the neighborhood that manufactures, we make sure it does not explode and kill everyone. This is industrial safety.
If there is a private or public vehicle that conveys people on our public roads, we make sure it is mechanically safe to operate and it is being operated by someone who has been tested and licensed without killing everyone one on the road. This is road safety.
If someone is taking care of children, we make sure the person is licensed, healthy and is not a child abuser or molester.
If he is a doctor in a hospital, we make sure he has been trained as a doctor. He is registered and licensed, and he has no criminal record.
As you can see, the simple ‘know thy neighbor ‘has been expanded to include all human endeavors and a strong need to protect the public from the criminal acts of a few. This simple process that could work and reduce crime in any jurisdiction has become adhoc in Nigeria.
This simple process that can be modernized has been bastardized in Nigeria. What obtains now is the posting of a policeman from Sokoto to my village to prevent crime. He does not speak Isoko and may not know the nuances of the criminals in the community. It is the criminals who will welcome home to the community, and he becomes their agent unknowingly. When he arrests a criminal, the case is transferred to Abuja for investigation. At the end of the day, the criminal is never prosecuted or punished.
Records pertaining to the crime are not kept and the identity of the criminal is lost. This is why criminals start flourishing and become powerful to the point of asking ransom money to be paid into a bank because they are now above the law. With enough money, he gets elected and they become the big boys that will continue to run Nigeria as a criminal enterprise. This is why we suffer.
We should think deeper before these folks make it illegal. We have a responsibility to identify and have records of everyone who lives in a community. When these records are maintained, security will improve because the chances of apprehending the criminal and making this record as part of the identity of the criminal will serve as a form of deterrent.
There are so many ways to subject this equation to different permutations. The present thinking is to be part of any modern society. It is cumbersome and adhoc. Those who set it up only think of crime as something you can only fight with AK 47. That is military induced mental retardation. We can do better.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL, PRISONERS CARE, OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE
If we aspire to be a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, we have to remove religion from the centrality of our politics. We must decentralize governance.
We have too many religious holidays and none of the religions is indigenous. Religion should have no place in our public lives.
The minds of our people have been seriously poisoned and corroded by religion. If we want to change our situation, we have to change the way we think. How can we think when the minds of the majority of our people have been corroded by religion?
What is happening in Nigeria is akin to mass psychosis. How do we extricate our nation from this? I am tempted to say let us pray. There goes my brain. Religion short circuits any thought process and leads to arrested development. What is the point of thinking when God is in charge? This leads to fatalism that is prevalent in Nigeria.
The present way and verve which Nigeria embraces religion is destructive to a society that is struggling to render service to its people in a pluralistic society. If Religion is such a good thing, the benefits will have been everywhere by now and the colonizers will never give it to us for free.
In order to create docility, they forced the Chinese to consume the real opium which was medicinal in China at that time. The Chinese leaders saw the harm it was doing to the people and they picked up arms. This led to the Opium wars that led to the loss of Hong Kong and Macao.
Africa had no opium and the colonizers discovered religion could be more addictive than opium and they cultivated it as it was cheaper than the real opium.
Docility has always been the endpoint of slavery and colonialism. Nigerians are more docile and self-destructive than any group of people I know. They worship and nurture those who steal and vandalize their commonwealth and without a blink lynch a person who steals a loaf of bread to ward off starvation. This level of cognitive dissonance is only seen amongst drug addicts.
When I hear of foreign aid, I squirm at the thought of adding foreign priests and pastors to these orgies of abuse of Africans.
The most religious geographies in Nigeria are the most violent and destructive to the body politics of Nigeria. Religion is not about love. It is about power. Since rulers around the world adopted religion to fortify their legitimacy, religion has always been a tool of power.
Every religion started with the founder having some private revelation. These revelations were not corroborated by a third party or done in the glare of the public. Someone said he saw God and we believed him. The king believed him and the king adopted the religion and the king became God and no one can criticize the king because the king is God.
In the prescientific world of yore, anything could be a miracle. Most early religious people directed their ire at the rulers. The wily rulers simply adopted the religion and usurped God’s power. The conundrum I continue to find is that none of the so-called founders actually set out to start a religion. These religions started many years after they were dead.
Moses criticized pharaoh and Jesus condemned the High Priests who were working in tandem with the Roman government in the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.
In today’s world, the Pope who is preaching Jesus will be on the side of Rome. Mohammad was not loved by the rulers of his time. Early prophets told the truth. Nathan told David about his lust. Nigerian prophets of today would collect their tithes and personally get rid of Uriah.
Why should the king bother with such little people like Uriah? Every great prophet was anti-establishment. The prophets of today, especially in Nigeria are the establishment. Whatever they say is not of God but from their selfish desires to covet what belongs to others. This is why religion is at the root of all corruption in Nigeria.
For Nigeria to be whole, we must excise religion from all our public interaction. Those who want sharia should find another country.
Nigeria is an African Country. It has no relationship with Saudi Arabia. Any organization that condones the killing of Nigerians like those being ministered to by the likes of Gumi should be outlawed.
Our aspiration is to run a country with objective scientific principles that are objective and verifiable. Any religious gobbledygook must be rejected.
Religion has not developed in any country in the world. The poorest nations in the World are overwhelmingly religious. In Bangladesh, the average religious holiday is about 2 weeks.
The two regions that have religious extremism in Nigeria are the North and the South-East. If there is goodness in religion, we will see it in these regions.
What do we see? In the South East, we see violence, kidnappings, ritual killings and fake manufacturing of drinks and drugs that the good Christians there produced for their neighbors.
Every morning in Aba, Onitsha and the environs, the good Christians wake up early to prepare a poison that will be unknowingly consumed by their neighbors for a fee. Did Jesus teach that? In the North, violence, human trafficking, child abuse, child marriages and religious killings, raping and kidnappings that numbs the mind. This is what religion breeds.
Every Friday morning in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, the “good” Muslims lay their praying mats on the road oblivious to traffic and start praying. The road is blocked and others cannot engage in their activities of daily living. At the end, they rise up and sacrifice Deborah Samson to their Allah. Any person who challenges this barbaric behavior is subjected to vigilante justice. Is this what Mohammed taught them? Jesus actually referred to this kind of people as the Pharisees. Why do I have to know you are praying? Why is it necessary to obstruct my movement because you are praying? This is nothing but an exercise of power.
Religion is the devil but the priest has been able to convince their gullible and ignorant followers that the opposite is true. Most of the religionists in Nigeria will say they love God but will not blink as they kill their fellow man in the name of God.
From what is happening in Nigeria, it will be difficult for any of these religious gooks to convince me that they are not working for the devil. At times like this, I am beginning to think of Tom Payne, my Idol. If God is capable of these atrocities, then the devil has nothing else to do. The devil should join the Church or mosque and do what the devil does best: Destruction.
What I try to emphasize in my writing is that at this time in our history, we have to learn to live together as black people. If we aspire to become the hope of the Black World, we must learn to have allegiance to each other. It is difficult to do so now because the colonizers left their Trojan horses of religion which we have fashioned into Molotov cocktails to haul at each other every now and then.
We must learn to love each other. We don’t have to like each other but we can develop the capacity to evolve a society where our laws prevent us from hurting each other. The religions that are creating these divisions are imported and are tools the colonizer used to make us pliant for servitude.
We need to learn how to remove these barriers that were created by those who came into our land for conquest. This needs the art of diplomacy and time. We have to understand we need each other to survive. Things will change when we start seeing ourselves in each other.
Europe lived through a period where they were intolerant of each other and the continent is gradually resuming some semblance of civility towards each other. The world war was actually intertribal and religious wars. Kosovo is still almost a war zone with animosities but life is getting better.
This is where I fault the proponents of Biafra. The quickness in which they want to resolve issues with violence or war is akin to people who have no experience with the devastation war brings. They are quick to issue ultimatums and engage in kinetic actions that will rally an opponent against them. This bellicosity and lack of diplomacy is due to the fact their societies never engaged in many wars as a nation, where serious thought is given to the consequences of losing. They made this mistake in the Nigerian civil war and they are at it again.
The Oyo Empire was one of the bloodiest empires in West Africa. The fall of the Oyo Empire led to the wholesale enslavement of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba people are the largest enslaved tribe in Africa. From Brazil to Suriname Cuba, the Yoruba language and religion are the norm. This devastation had an effect on the Oyo Empire and they learned from it.
This is the reason why the Yoruba people are very diplomatic about thorny issues. They have been accused of being tricky. They learned a lot from their history and a Yoruba man will never beat his chest to a man who has an AK 47 pointing to his chest. If a Yoruba man decides to go to war, I will not have many questions to ask before I join because I know he has deliberated about everything and he has no other choice and I know he will win because he also understands the opposition.
When Nnamdi Kanu threatens a Buhari who is a President, Kanu assumes that Buhari is an idiot because of Igbo man’s arrogance and limited education. Where is Kanu today? Buhari could have eliminated Kanu in Nairobi if that was his mission. His mission was to arrest and prosecute him. Notwithstanding his theatrics, Nnamdi should thank Buhari for not murdering him in Nairobi or through a calculated plane crash. He should learn that a good leader is not a blood thirsty vagabond who issues orders to kill people at will. He should respect our courts and follow the due process of trial.
Those who are asking America to invade Nigeria have the same infantile thinking. They think Trump will drop the bombs, the Muslims will disappear and they will have their Biafra and everything is over. This naivety led to the colossal failure of Ojukwu and the Igbos still call him the people general.
Please turn the page. It is titled the “Day After “ For some reasons, the Biafrans don’t know that their book of dreams has a next page. Ojukwu forgot that page too. “After Biafra lost, they blamed everyone but themselves. The people who rejected the advice of Nnamdi Azikiwe, a seasoned statesman for the bellicosity of a renegade now tell us it was other people’s fault.
Warriors don’t brag about battles. They don’t even show us their scars. They leave that for amateurs who have never seen widows and orphans. Hitler tried it the second time and the results were the same and more devastating. It is not necessary to repeat a class if all lessons are learned.
My submission is that we should learn diplomacy. The making of a nation requires this. Those who negotiate on behalf of their people should always avoid the temptation to think their adversary is an idiot.
America has not given us creative leaders lately. They have become used to antiseptic wars. Donald Trump coming to Africa to save Christian sounds like a 419 proposition for the racist religious right of America. He doesn’t need to spend much effort to destroy Nigeria or kill those causing the problem.
Let’s be more creative. He should tell Nigeria he is dropping 20 billion dollars in Lokoja for Christians and Muslims to share equally. He should then sit and wait. All the Muslims and Christians will arrive with their swords and AK 47. There will be a holy war as each side tries to claim this loot. The only ones who will be left alive are Nigerians who didn’t believe the story and those who have not been converted or sent away by their priests because they are not real Muslims or Christians. The Catholics will ask for confessions before any one is allowed to join the broil. By morning, America can walk in and take the rare earths and minerals without firing a shot . They can collect their money from the pockets of all the dead Christians and Muslims who were engaged in a jihad.
Where are the good Christians in Nigeria? They have been raptured. Where are the Muslims? They are in paradise with their 72 virgins. Religion has always been a lie, a big lie. Religion is an intoxicant invented by men of power. This intoxicant is the greatest purveyor of violence and cruelty in our world. The exceptions don’t make the rules. Prove me wrong.
What is so holy about a war that God has to take sides? If America defeats Nigeria tomorrow, does it mean America was right and God was on their side? No, they have better intelligence and technology. God wasn’t the referee.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE
Who makes these changes?
“I shoot an arrow right, it turns left“
I chase after a deer; I get chased by a lion.
I dig a hole for my enemies, and I fall into it……….
I should be careful about what I want” …. RUMI
Who makes these changes? Why can’t we understand that what goes around comes around? I have been doing some random musings lately. Why is it so easy for government agents not to pay contractors who have diligently completed an assignment on behalf of the government? The government being the largest employer is setting bad examples to rogue employers who are exploiting Nigerians daily.
How can the government compel private institutions to pay what they owe, when the government is the chief culprit in this regard? Those in government must ask the critical question. Is the non-payment for services part of the root cause of the various unrest in Nigeria? These actors may be those who have been damaged by government actions. This is a big issue that should worry any person or politician in any position of authority.
The stories concerning non-payment for duly executed contracts are very disturbing. The cavalier altitude of the elite in this regard is overwhelming and numbing. All tiers of governments in Nigeria treat their contractors and workers with arrogance and disdain like the military used to do. This attitude of not paying contractors and suppliers has become a culture that will cripple the country. A businessman takes a loan from a bank to execute contracts on behalf of government and there is no hope of him getting paid. The bank comes after him and he loses everything. This is cruel and unfair.
No government should consider owing contractors as a policy of development. Some of these folks die without collecting what is owed to them. There should be a law to stop the government from these abuses of citizens. The stories are so numerous and heartbreaking. There was the story of a contractor who procured vehicles for some state government. Many months have passed, and nothing has been paid. The contractor lost his collateral to bank seizures.
We cannot develop Nigeria with this primitive way of thinking and interaction with citizens who use their resources and ingenuity to provide services to the government that have no respect for the sanctity of contacts.
All the politicians in this country profess some faith. It is sacrilege not to pay the laborer his just wages. No economy can develop if those who participate and deliver service are not paid their just wages after completion of set contracts.
There should be a law to stop this abuse of citizens. If this situation is not remedied, it will soon have a multiplier effect that will drag the economy down and increase the suffering of hard-working Nigerians who dare to participate in business ventures with the government and its agencies.
A law should apply here, that sixty days after completion of a project, the government must pay if the work is satisfactory. If there is any dispute, the agencies involved must pay fifty percent and the other fifty percent should be paid with interest when the dispute is resolved.
Those who are in charge and derive joy from withholding citizens legitimate earning should know that what goes around comes around. Someone may not release their pension until after their death. If this attitude becomes the Nigerian culture, they have a responsibility to be a bull work against rogue government policies. No one should protest to be paid his just earnings. This sordid behavior in the corridors of power should be stopped as it is beginning to be a culture.
The nature of Nigerian society is that the dark is always calling to the dark. Before we know it, all government agencies will be like NEPA that charges exorbitant fees without supplying a single unit of electricity.
Pay the laborer his just wages. Government should not engage in theft of service. The National Assembly should conduct a study to see how prevalent this malady is in this country and advance legislation to preclude it.
If you don’t pay those who work, don’t be surprised when your system becomes clogged with flotsam and jetsam that will sink the ship of state. No one should work for a government that does not pay. Those who will do so are desperados who are there to deplete and convert government resources. Some of the unrest throughout the country may be due to people who feel they have been taken advantage of by the state or federal government. These include those who executed contracts and were not paid and became desperate.
Government must at all times try to reduce the ranks of desperado by not deliberately pushing people into poverty. This lack of regard of citizens leads to a culture of nonchalance that defines Nigeria today. We can do better by refusing to race to the bottom.
All governments must as a matter of urgency assume their responsibility to pay their workers and contractors their fair and just compensation. Any government that does not comply with this fundamental objective is a rogue government that has no place in civilized societies. Such governments can only produce discontent and anarchy.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS